Project Assignments
Team |
Member(s) |
Project Name |
1 |
Taranjeet Singh Bhatia
|
NvrBAlone |
2 |
Philip Shibly
|
SensEvent |
3 |
Vignesh Saravanaperumal
|
Survey: The Urban Security and Privacy challenges |
4 |
Lauren Ball
|
FitTogether |
5 |
Michael Betancourt
|
WiFind |
6 |
Brandon Ochs and Albert Park
|
PhotoSharing |
7 |
Sara Gaffar
|
Private Space Detection |
8 |
Travis Cossairt
|
SportTown |
9 |
Samori Ball
|
Survey: Environmental Applications in Urban Sensing |
10 |
Brent Horine
|
Visit Planner (a.k.a. Tourist Flow) |
11 |
Rene Chacon
|
Detecting Noise Level Strengthens and Longevity |
12 |
Steve Kopman
|
Bus Truck |
13 |
Eric Minner and James Pittman
|
NovelSee |
14 |
Siddharth Mohan
|
Survey: Healthcare Applications in Urban Sensing |
15 |
Chau Ngo
|
aShockImpact |
16 |
Jonathan Mohlenhoff
|
EnviroSense |
17 |
Mireshkumar Shukla
|
Disaster- Help Tahiti |
Research project submission requirements:
The project report should be written in the form of a conference paper,
you're required to use the ``latex'' (version available for Windows and Linux).
See the definition of Latex
from Wikipedia. You can download the MikTEX.
The
The Not So Short Introduction to LATEX is a good manual that I would
recommend. Please use Bibtex for the
references. Please use the templates from IEEE
publications site.
The project report should include:
- Introduction, motivation, goals, expectations
- Related work, other similar projects, with citations. Evaluation of
conferences, workshops, journals where similar work is presented
- Description of the project, implementation choices, architecture and design.
Challenges and problems encountered
- Experimental results, preferably comparison with other systems
- Conclusions and future work
If you have any questions, please post it to the class emailing address which
would be useful for the other students since there are some students in the
class who have experience with latex.
NOTE If you would like to propose your own project (individual or as a
team), please provide 1 page summary of the proposed project. The project
proposals must be turned in to the instructor by the beginning of the third week
of classes.
Class Projects
Project 1: Pace of life
We use expressions such as "hectic", "slow" etc. to describe the pace of life in
different cities, but is it possible to measure the "pace of life" in a
quantitative manner? Can we perhaps use the average speed at which people walk
in a city to measure the pace of life in a city?
Given that a lot of people carry mobile phones, we can use these mobile phones
to help us to measure the walking speed of people. If many people from many
cities contribute data, we can get an idea about the pace of life from many
cities. We can perhaps use the data to verify whether it is true that the pace
of life in Tokyo is faster than that in Oslo.
A starting point of the project is to look into how to determine whether someone
is walking and his/her walking speed, and the get the data contributed to a web
site. It may be interesting to think about other metrics too, say do people in
one city talk faster than that in another city? How do you measure the speed of
talking? etc.
Project 2: Social distance relating to urban space
Houses, enterprises, universities, temples and churches, governmental
institutions, etc. represent entities that can be understood in different levels
of social proximity to the population. Find a way, how to assign places to
social distances using social interactions and community structures. Related
question: What is the average Euclidean distance between places with the same
social distance in one urban area?
Project 3: Private Space Detection
In dense and crowded cities, private space where people can be alone to relax
are rare. Use mobile sensors to find patterns of spatial-temporal private
spaces, i.e. spaces that at a certain time more likely to be less crowded.
Project 4: Density Probing for Population Estimation
The population of a city changes not only over several years with birthrate and
death rate, but also over several hours. For instance in Luxembourg, the
population is about 500k but increases dramatically over the day when people
come from Germany or Belgium to work there. Similar dynamics can be observed on
Holiday places. Use mobile sensors to locally detect the population density and
try to estimate the dynamics in the population changes by interfering local
data.
Project 5: NovelSee
Participatory sensing often relies on receiving a great number of varied inputs
to provide a useful service. For this project, you are to create a proof of
concept, specifically designed to find novel images in the world. Users will
snap and upload pictures from their mobile devices to the central server. The
server will use an image search system (e.g. Lire:
http://www.semanticmetadata.net/lire/) to determine which images received over a
certain period of time are the most novel (that is, least like the existing
photos in the database). It should then post a photo of the day. This system
will help encourage a stream of interesting and novel shots.
Project 6: FitTogether
Working out is often a boring and isolating experience. People work out on rows
of machines, on treadmills and the like, typically passing time in solitary
pursuits like listening to music or watching TV. Your job is to make a
participatory fitness application. Users at a gym would download this app to
their device, and start it when they start their work out. They could enter
information into it about their current work out (their number of reps, their
personal bests, etc, optionally from a sensor like the one available from Nike).
The application would encourage competition, cooperation and cohesion. Users
should be able to compete in small fitness competitions (e.g. most reps on the
machine during the day). Users who like to lift weights may ask for spotters.
These are just a few suggestions, but the app can include anything that you
think could make the workout more fun and engaging for gym-goers.
Project 7: SensEvent
Special events, including weddings, bar mitzvahs and quinces have long been hot
beds of participatory sensing. People typically bring cameras and share their
pictures with fellow guests. It is popular to give the guests disposable cameras
with which to take pictures. Those who put on the event later mine those photos
for ones that are valuable. Your job is to create an application that supports
participatory sensing of a special event. The event organizers will first be
able to send out invites to the attendees, which they will receive with the
application. At the appointed time, the application will become active on the
mobile device. Users can then take pictures, record video and audio, which will
be timestamped and geocoded. Finally, at the end of the event, the organizers
will be able to login to a website which will assemble all of this content by
various criteria (by user, in chronological order, by area, etc).
Project 8: Disaster Model
Participatory and urban sensing have huge potential applications for the area of
crisis informatics. With platforms like Ushahidi (http://www.ushahidi.com) users
with mobile devices can share information that, if properly aggregated, can make
coping with a disaster easier. However, in order to create worthwhile
applications in this domain, and to be confident that they will do more good
than harm, is is imperative to have a model of how events unfold during a
disaster. You job is to create such a disaster model for a well known disaster
(e.g. the September 11th attacks, Hurricane Katrina, the recent earthquake in
Haiti, etc). Using the best available records and research, assemble a simple
multiagent model of the events and the response of the victims. Your model
should include a simple grid of the area, where grids can be inhabitable,
uninhabitable, dangerous, etc. The model should replay events that changed these
areas over time, and show how agents responded. Then, you should model a
participatory sensing application for these users and gather various simulation
statistics about the application. Models like this will be invaluable to
assessing the efficacy of crisis sensing applications before they are deployed.
Project 9: GoingMyWay
Ride sharing has become a popular way of reducing transportation costs as well
as environmental impact. There are now several web sites that are dedicated to
matching up people to car pool. You job is to make these kinds of ride sharing
match ups even more convenient and useful, as well as extend them to other types
of activities. Build an application that tracks the routes of a user throughout
the day. This information should be uploaded (securely and encrypted) to a
central web server. Then, the system should look at these routes, and find other
users with similar routes. Some work will need to be done to create or adapt a
suitable algorithm for this kind of clustering. The application should then
connect users together who share common routes, whether those routes are during
their daily commute, or part of their recreation time.
Project 10: PhotoSharing
A photo sharing application lets you read the exif data for an image to extract
the gps data and display where the image was taken on the map. The goal is to
create a social networking photo application that friends can use to share
pictures with each other on the iPhone. It will automatically show dots on the
map where each image was sent from, and when they select that image it will show
an image of the user who sent it (an avatar or some kind of icon) as well as an
area for them to chat about the photo.
Project 11: WiFind
Sometimes it is difficult to find open wireless networks to connect to when you
are in a new location. Even worst is when there is something critical that you
must take care of and your own home network connection is down. My proposal is
to make a peer supported map of wireless networks in the area. Data collected
would include the GPS location of where a reading was taken as well as the
following information about the possible connections:
- Service Set Identification (SSID)
- Security (Open, Closed (If possible, the kind of encryption))
- Signal strength
- Current cell phone signal strength
One key function to the system is to allow for storing of wireless network
information locally until a proper network connection can be found. This will
provide the database with a bigger data set and can speed up data collection
over a large area. Since, we are also recording the cell phone signal strength,
a peer based cell phone reception map could also be made. Other applications to
the system include raising awareness of how to properly configure routers.
Public service announcements could be directed in areas where people do not have
security and make sure they are aware of the risks of doing so. Users of the
system could register their own access points to the site as a welcomed network
connection to those in need. They could also set if their internet connection is
down making others in their neighborhood aware of possible outages. This
information could be forwarded to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for instant
reporting of problems within their networks.
Project 12: SportTown
Users activate this mobile iPhone app to mark the physical activity/sport they
are doing each day and uses GPS data to record the location and time and type of
activity. Interface will be simplified to popular categories: walk/run, bike,
skate, swim, team sports, gym, etc. and then plotted color-coded on a central
map of the city for others to view. Other user's can use the app to filter out
to see what other parts of the city are the most physically active, and to find
out what kind of activities are available around the area. This would be useful
for other people looking to find better/new places to run/bike/skate/swim and be
around others of the same physical hobby & sport.
Project 13: Detecting Noise Level Strengthens and Longevity
An app will be created for the Android, that will have two main uses. First, to
detect various characteristics of audio signals such as decibel level (via
microphone), duration of sound levels (via timer), location of sound levels (via
GPS) and possible more. The detection will be performed at specified times and
specified locations via user preferences. For example a user might select that
once he or she has entered the UCF library (GPS coordinates used) the
application will sample the sound levels (turning on the microphone for 10
seconds) for a defined amount of time (every 30 minutes). The app will strive to
alleviate any needed interaction with Android phone owner. The app will activate
and utilize the microphone and GPS without user interaction but this introduces
possible issues such as What if the Android Phone is located inside a sweater
inside a bag, the microphone will give incorrect data such as very low noise
levels? Is it feasible to instruct the user to not cover or hide the phone,
hence leave the phone exposed to environment? What if the APP is programed to
only gather data when the phone is being used such as sending text messages,
checking time, browser the web or using camera ?
The second main use of the app will be to display visually in a form similar to
an audio equalizer the noise levels for specific decibels values for a specified
location such as UCF library. The app should be able to convey to a user whether
the noise is a result of whispers or loud arguments. In addition the app will
specify using coordinates or labels for well known coordinates such as the UCF
library where noise levels are being recorded. Finally the app will contain a
history of the number of sensors used in a defined area and the sampling rate of
the sensors for a defined amount of time such as half a day, 12 hours or less.
This data will provide a means for a user to determine the validity and likeness
that the observed noise level will indeed remain around the same for the time
the app is run.
Project 14: Visit Planner (a.k.a. Tourist Flow)
- Offers tourists location based couponing and LBS information such as
details on shops, restaurants, public restrooms, parking etc. near by
- Offers tourists an ability to "like" particular places
- Offers business owners information on how tourists flow through a small
town, specifically routes and rates of movement
- Offers landlords tangible information on the value of their locations
- Offers community leaders information on where else tourists visit and travel
during and after their stay
Issues to be addressed include
- the hook to get tourists to use the application and allow the system to gather
information
- dead reckoning during loss of GPS signal events
- semantically meaningful presentation of data to retailers and landlords
- business (esp. revenue model)
Project 15: Bus Truck
Problem: Current mass transit systems rely on printed or website distributed
time tables that do not account for weather, traffic or other delay issues.
Commuters that use these systems rely on timely departure and arrival times to
get to work, meet their friends and attend appointments. Accurate arrival and
departure information is not provided to them real-time except in a small number
of cases. In addition, users and transit operators do not know accurate wait
times for passengers and the number of passengers waiting in line.
Current State of the Art: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has buses and
trains that provide detailed route information and location to a mobile
application. The system covers the real-time location aspects of the problem but
does not cover the wait time tracking. It also requires every bus and train to
have a trackable device on-board (GPS or otherwise) to send data to a central
processing center.
The University of Utah has a text messaging system where the user can send a
text message to a specific number with their bus stop and it will return
accurate information on the location of buses and their ETA. This however
requires the user to utilize text messaging for each time they want updated
status on a buses location. If each user checked the bus location twice per day
for 30 days, 120 total messages (one transmit, one receive) would be required.
Standard text messaging rates of $0.10 per message would require the user to
spend $12/month to have this information.
Proposed Solution: The ubiquity of smartphones provides a logical platform
for real-time, user-driven mass transit tracking. The focus of the project is to
provide the user real-time feedback on mass transit locations and ETAs on a map.
To ensure success on a semester long project, a scaled down version, focusing on
one single bus system, is proposed.
The BusTrack application allows the user to enter their current status
(waiting, on-the-bus or off-the-bus) and receive real-time status of the bus
they are interested in aggregated from other users. The information will be
provided using Google Maps.
The scenario for a user is as follows. When the user arrives at the bus stop
they start the application. The application uses their current GPS position to
present the user with a list of bus routes that service that location or allows
the user to select from a list. After this information is entered, the user
enters the waiting state and the wait timer is started. A map displays the
current location of the bus and an ETA for its arrival at the users location.
Once the user is on the bus, they enter the on-the-bus state and the wait timer
is stopped. Their current location is recorded and uploaded to a central
processing center and aggregated with other users data. When the user exits the
bus they enter the off-the-bus state. All GPS tracking is stopped.
The mapping information could be viewed from a website as well. This is a
stretch goal for the project.
Project 16: EnviroSense
Bringing the next innovation to urban sensing and allowing millions of
individuals to use their cell phones to sense their environments, EnviroSense.
This sensor attaches to an iPhone and turns the user's iPhone into an
environmental sensor. This custom made board will connect to the iPhone via the
30 pin docking connector and will utilize the serial interface in the connector.
A custom designed app will communicate with the board and display the values of
the environmental sensors. A possible extension of the project would be to
incorporate pushing the data to a central server and logging the timestamp and
location of the sensor data via the built in GPS. This custom sensor will
incorporate three main environmental sensors: temperature, humidity, and
barometric pressure. Other sensors could be included if available.
Project 17: aShockImpact
Motivation: Shock caused by the feet striking the ground is transmitted up
the legs, through the pelvis, to the lower back. The difference in amount of
sock absorb by a person depends on various factors such as surface, speed, type
of footwear, pronation (natural inward roll of the foot as the arch collapses
(much like a spring) when walking, between the time the heel contacts the ground
and toe-off), etc. It can potentially cause pain in legs, knees, and back.
In this project, we will develop an Android software application that
utilizes Android phone accelerometer to measure the amount of shock, in g-force,
that impacts a person while walking or running.
Designs/Plans: The initial designs/plans for this project are listed below.
Types of data will be provided to users
Counts (total number (> threshold) of shocks within time intervals: 1 hour,
1 week, 1 month, etc and total number of shocks within a walking/running distance)
Biggest shock
Smallest shock
Average of all shocks
Sum of all shocks
Graphs
Compare impacts when the user wearing no shoe and different types of shoes.
This analysis might potentially help user with the following actions.
Determine time to buy new shoe
Evaluate shock absorbing shoes quality
Determine what type of shoes are needed if provided information about how
much shock they can absorb
Compare impacts between different speeds
Compare impacts between different surfaces
Compare impacts between different left and right leg emphasizes
Relate collected data to feet, back pain, and any other health issue
Project 18: Disaster - Help Tahiti
Motivation: Natural disaster, like earth-quake, flood, drought etc., is
unavoidable. And, a big number of people can be affected by these. So we should
develop such mobile friendly application in which community can take part and
help such disaster affected people.
Proposed Solution:
This mobile application will provide the information (like current news,
pictures, videos etc) regarding such natural disaster to the community.
The total affected area by disaster on map.
The application will show current improvement of the place.
How the life has been changed after such disaster?
Statistics graph: Like growth, population, etc.
We can include “Donate” tab in application, if somebody likes to give
donation.
Platform:
Android Platform will be used to build this application.
Project 19: Survey: The Urban Security and Privacy Challenges
Is there truly a way to be protected? The phone is automatically on because of
911 services. The cell phone company knows where you are traveling- instead of
technological issue, this may be a political or legal issue. People will know
where you are. If it's not you, someone will pick up the bluetooth signal coming
from your phone. Passive monitoring of your presence will be everywhere. Is
there going to be a privacy? Similarly, is our personal data sensed and stored
somewhere in the cloud really secure?
This project should survey the security and privacy issues within urban sensing
research. The survey should provide summaries of the most widely used techniques
and/or applications and evaluate them based on common metrics.
Project 20: Survey: Technical and Engineering Challenges in Urban Sensing
Continuous sensing application access hardware sensors on the phone, they use
signal processing techniques to extract information from raw data and use
classification algorithms or machine learning algorithms software running on the
phone or in the cloud. This pipeline of raw data, classification and
communication with back-end presents a number of different problems.
This project should survey the technical and engineering challenges within
urban sensing research. The survey should provide summaries of the most widely
used techniques and/or applications and evaluate them based on common metrics.
Project 21: Survey: Healthcare Applications in Urban Sensing
This project should survey the healthcare applications within urban sensing
research. The survey should provide summaries of at least 10 applications (from
academia and commercial) and evaluate them based on common metrics.
Project 22: Survey: Environmental Applications in Urban Sensing
This project should survey the environmental applications within urban sensing
research. The survey should provide summaries of at least 10 applications (from
academia and commercial) and evaluate them based on common metrics.